Berwick Out-Guns Hanover Hawks Despite Still Missing A Few Key Bullets
Bankes Delivers Crushing Pin To Rally & Propel Dawgs Into Lead
Dawgs Victorious 54 - 19 At Home On December 21

One of these days Berwick will have its full lineup.  When?  I don't think anyone can pencil in a date yet, but that day will certainly come and it can't come soon enough.  Berwick has been wrestling without its complete starting lineup from Day 1.  We've seen kids hit with the flu, leg injuries, arm injuries, wisdom teeth removed, a concussion, and more.  And while none of this is ever unexpected during the course of a season, having them happen all at once can definitely add some gray hair to the coaching staff.

Despite the repeated paramedic calls, Berwick is now 3-0 on the season.

The Dawgs played host to the Hawkeyes of Hanover on December 21.  Berwick out-wrestled the Hawks in contested bouts, but Hanover had its own problems filling its lineup having to forfeit 5 bouts.  Berwick's depth, a luxury worth its weight in gold when dealing with spats of injuries and other conundrums, has bolted the Dawgs to the undefeated ranks so far in the regular season.  The "Yates Countdown" now stands at 5 for the 200th career win for Head Coach Ernie Yates.  Zeb Bankes (1:44) and Nick Venditti (1:28) recorded falls on the night for Berwick.

Berwick came out blazing with smoke pouring out of the barrel and took the first two bouts of the night.  Senior Jeff May was the first Dawg to enter the circle of war, and in a highly competitive match-up, Jeff out-slugged his opponent before the opposing gladiator had to injury default.  Sophomore Chris Johnson (just back from injury) was the next Dawg out of the pen, and in one of the most enjoyable match-ups of the night, really turned the heat up in the Dawg gymnasium.  Chris bombarded his opponent with non-stop aggressive assaults and the offensive firepower was the difference as Johnson sealed an excellent 8-5 decision.

The Hawkeyes got on the scoreboard by capturing the next closely contested bout by decision.   Hanover then awarded a free pass to Sophomore Aaron Karns but followed-up on the freebie by taking the next two bouts by fall.

The dual was now in a draw with the score all tied up at 15 apiece.

Senior heavyweight Zeb Bankes would not allow the opponents to take the lead.  Bankes took to the mat of self-determination like an Abrams tank in full throttle and delivered crushing blow after blow before administering a pulverizing chest-on-chest first period pin.  Bankes' fall placed Berwick back into the lead, a lead that would never again be relinquished.  Hanover was then forced to award two more free admission tickets to freshman Dom Yantorn and Steve Prebola.  In a matter of just a minute or two, the Dawgs elevated the lead by the score of 33-15.

Hanover then captured the next gun-slinging bout by major decision.  The Hawks then had to award another forfeit to freshman Mike Derkotch.  The Dawgs were now up by the score of 39-19.

Sophomore Lou Ney was up next and had his trigger finger at the ready for another of the night's most hotly contested and enjoyable bouts.  Lou shot first to take the early lead and maintained exact and complete control of his opponent throughout the duration of the gun fest and finished with his hand raised to the ceiling in placing an excellent 8-4 decision into the books.  The Hawks were then forced to award their last forfeit of the night to freshman Matt Saxton.  Berwick's lead now jumped to 48-19.

With the night's outcome already decided, the finale featured sophomore Nick Venditti.  Nick, wrestling like a possessed man on a sugar diet, put on a repeat performance of Monday's dual and has now wrestled approximately two minutes in his last two bouts.  Venditti came out with all guns blazing bullets of non-relenting fire.  Nick's constant in-your-face pressure off the whistle completely overwhelmed his opponent and Venditti quickly imposed a shoulder vice-grip for a speedy and workmanlike first period pin.

With the smoke of battle now clear, the lights on the scoreboard were beaming another Berwick victory by the score of 54-19.

Winning Dawgs Against Hanover
Jeff May:  Injury Default
Chris Johnson:  Decision
Aaron Karns:  Forfeit
Zeb Bankes:  Fall
Dom Yantorn:  Forfeit
Steve Prebola:  Forfeit
Mike Derkotch:  Forfeit
Lou Ney:  Decision
Matt Saxton:  Forfeit
Nick Venditti:  Fall

Congratulations Dawgs!!